Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1887-08-17
MistellaueuMs &eaaiua.
A NEGRO IN HIS 18TH YEAR.


A correspondent at Laredo, Texas, writes
as follows to the st. Louis Glo6e-D Democrat:
James James, a negro and citizen of the
United States, who resides at Santa Rosa,
Mexico, is probably the oldest man on
earth. He was born near Dorchester, S.
c., in 1852, and while an infant was re-
moved to Midway river, Ga, in the same
year that Franklin brought down electric
ity from the thunder clouds. In 1772 there
was quite an immigration into South
Carolipa, and his master, James James
(from whom he takes his name), moved
near Charleston, S. c., in company with a
number of his neighbors. On June 4, 1776,
when "a years of age, a large British fleet,
under Sir Peter Parker, arrived OH the
coast of Charleston. The citizens had
erected a palmetto wood fort on Sullivan's
Island, with tWenty-six guns, manne by
on June %, the British made an attack by
land and water and were compelled to
withdraw after a ten-hours' conflict. 1t
was during this fight that Sergeant Jasper
distinguished himself by replacing the
flag, which had been shot away upon the
bastion, on q new staff. Jim's master,
James James, manned one of the guns in
this fight, and the subject of this sketch
and four other slaves were employed
around the fort as general laborers. Jim
followed his master throughout the war,
and was with General Moultrie at Port
ROYAL, S. c., February 8, 1879. when Moul-
trie defeated the combined British forces
of Provost and Campbell. His master was
surrendered by General Lincoln at Charles
ton, S. c., on February IL, 1880, to the
British forces, and that ended J1m's mil
itary career.
He remembers the rejoicing in 1892
throughout the country in consequence OF
Washington's election to the Presidency,
he then being 40 years Of age: In that
year his first master died, aged about 6o
wears. Jim then became the property OF
"Marse Henry" (Henry James,, owning
large estates and about thirty slaves, neal
Charleston. On account OF having raised
"Marse Henry" Jin'was a special favorlte
with his master and was allowed to 40 as
he chose. His second master, Henry, died
in 1915, about SIS years of age, and jim,
then 63 years of age, became the properly
of James James, Henry's second son. In
1888 the railroad from Charleston to Sa-
yannah was completed, then the longest
railroad in the world, and Jim, with his
master took a trip, over the road, and was
shown special favors on account of his
age, then 81. James James was 10 years
of age at his fathers death, and when he
became of age inherited large estates,
slaves, etc., among whom were "old Uncle
Jim" and his family. James James lived
in South Carolina until 1855, when he
moved to Texas with all his slaves. James
desired that his slaves should be free
at his death, and in 1858 moved into
Mexico so that they could be free before
his death. James returned to the United
States and died in Texas, andin 1865. after
there was no longer slaves in the United
States, Uncle Jim's children and grand
children returned to the United States.
Five years ago, at the age of 100, Jim
could do light chores, but subsisted mostly
by contributions from the citizens, but for
the past two years, not being able to walk,
he remains for the most part in his little
iacal, his wants being supplied by his
generous neighbors. The rheumatism in
his legs prevents him from walking, but
yet he has sufficient strength in his arms
to drag himself a short distance-ffty
yards or more.